Declaration of Independence
This Enlightenment thinker’s ideas about natural rights heavily influenced the Declaration of Independence.
Who is John Locke?
Under the Articles, each state had this many votes in Congress.
What is one vote?
The Constitution begins with these three words.
What are "We the People"?
Madison argued that this threat to the government was inevitable but manageable.
What are factions?
This amendment, inspired by the Declaration’s idea that government must protect individual rights, guarantees freedoms like speech, religion, and the press.
What is the First Amendment?
According to the Declaration, governments must protect these, or they should be replaced.
What are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
The Articles described the U.S. as this kind of association among states.
What is a "firm league of friendship"?
This constitutional principle divides government power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
What is separation of powers?
Madison believed this type of government better controlled factions than direct democracy.
What is a republic?
The Articles of Confederation’s fear of strong central power is reflected in this amendment, which reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states.
What is the Tenth Amendment?
This part of the British government was largely blamed in the Declaration for the colonies' grievances.
Who is King George III?
This event exposed the weaknesses of the Articles by showing the government couldn't respond to internal rebellion.
What is Shays’ Rebellion?
This compromise counted enslaved people as part of the population for representation.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
This size of republic, according to Madison, is best at controlling the effects of factions.
What is a large republic?
Responding to tyranny fears highlighted in the Declaration, this amendment protects individuals from cruel and unusual punishment.
What is the Eighth Amendment?
This famous phrase from the Declaration highlights the idea of equality among all people.
What is “All men are created equal”?
To change the Articles, this was required from the states.
What is unanimous approval?
The Constitution is known as this, meaning no law can supersede it.
What is the "supreme law of the land"?
Madison warned that this kind of government had no cure for factionalism.
What is a pure democracy?
The structure of the Constitution (emphasizing popular sovereignty) is reinforced by this amendment, which clarified voting rights cannot be denied based on race.
What is the Fifteenth Amendment?
This is what the Declaration said the people must do when the government fails to protect their rights.
What is abolish or alter the government?
The Articles lacked these two key branches of government.
What are the executive and judicial branches?
To gain anti-Federalist support, these were promised to protect individual rights.
What is the Bill of Rights?
Madison's solution to faction problems relied heavily on this constitutional principle that encourages competition among groups.
What is pluralism?
While Federalist No. 10 warns against factions threatening liberty, this amendment limits government power over individuals’ private spaces, helping prevent the majority from intruding on minority rights.
What is the Fourth Amendment?